7 ITEMS TO NOT LEAVE BEHIND ON A SALTWATER FLY FISHING TRIP
I take a lot of pride in trip preparation, I feel that to get the best experience from a trip one really need to go in depth with your planning and preparation to avoid leaving any crucial items behind. I can’t remember how many anglers in my guiding days brought along broken rods having forgotten to send them in to get fixed in the first place. Trips are expensive so packing right is the least you could do. Here are some items that I cannot go on a saltwater fishing trip without:
1. Sunglasses
This is by far one of the most important in my opinion. Without a good pair of sunglasses the glare will put a lot of strain on your eyes. Saltwater fishing covers a wide variety of different scenarios from flats fishing to deep sea fishing to even fishing from the beach, no matter the situation I can’t picture myself getting it done without a quality pair of sunglasses. On any trip I go on I will take three pairs of Sunglasses. I will always take a low light pair and then two pairs suited for the destination. Also prepared not only for myself but also in case another angler forget or lose a pair. Not only does it offer protection from the sun but more importantly to flies. Often associated with Saltwater you will have wind, and the combination makes it a very high possibility to get a fly in the eye, that’s an instant end to your trip…
2. Boots
Majority of my saltwater fishing is done on foot wading flats. There are countless risks involved in doing this unless you have the right boots. There are many reasons to wear boots but for me it’s pretty simple it protects my ankles with the potentially unstable surface it’s easy to twist an ankle. If paired with good gravel guards it keeps your feet free from sand and fine coral. The right boots will offer you quite a bit more grip when walking over reefs and boulders etc. As like anything technology is so advanced that now they are made super light so it should not take up unnecessary weight when traveling.
3. Waterproof Backpack
Keeping moisture out when fishing the salt is definitely a daily goal when wading the flats. I put a lot of trust in my Yeti Panga backpack by always loading it with some expensive camera gear and items that I use all the time. When out on the flats . I have had to use it as floatation in the past too. This is something worth spending some money on seeing that on the long run this backpack will become one of your most valuable items when traveling remote areas. I also use this as my carry on with laptops etc.
4. Rain Jacket
Warm or Cold conditions it doesn’t matter I never go anywhere without a rain jacket in my backpack. I have countless memories of days where the weather forecast didn’t predict the weather we had. Again most of my saltwater fishing is done in tropical climates so having a lightweight waterproof outer layer becomes one of those items I don’t travel without. Not only is it waterproof but it can also act as a wind stopper. I have used the same lightweight rain jacket in colder climate areas just adding a couple layers underneath.
5. Pliers
The Ocean is full of a wide variety of species and a lot of them often have some nasty teeth, to avoid getting a serious wound that could potentially end a trip a good set of pliers has many different functions. I personally love carrying the Gerber plier/multi tool which has saved me a serious dentist bill not having to chew through 40lb + leader material. The multi tool has also helped me a bunch fixing engines in remote places. I always like to try and remind myself of where I am, often it’s 20+ hours from the closest hospital. It is therefore that a multi tool has become one of my first items to go in my backpack, because in any potential survival situation it’s going to potentially save a life.
6. First Aid Kit
It’s the reality that you are faced with many dangerous scenarios that could potentially get bad really fast. At the end of the day the goal is not to save a life with my first aid kit but to be able to give someone a really good fighting chance. Another special item that has come in super handy in my guiding career is having Salt & Pepper or Soy Sauce Sachets in my kit. It’s an absolute game changer that does not weigh anything really but it can turn a plain fish into something you look forward eating. I would have to also mention as part of my first aid kit I like to carry a charged satellite phone wherever I go. It’s simply just making use of technology to keep the people close to me at ease when I do off the grid trips. A simple phone call can change everything.
7. Camera Gear
One of the most difficult things for me to do is try and tell people about certain trips that you have done without any images etc. It’s a pretty damn cool lifestyle I get to live and the least I could do is take pictures to share the experiences with the less fortunate that only dream about these places. Yes my back pack often weight over 30lbs but it’s worth every back spasm and rusted lens. Good quality pictures will capture a moment for a really long time. Nowadays some of the smart phones are almost capable to replace a camera to some extent, but it is still very different having a variety of lenses, a drone, etc.…
I could easily keep going as far as important items I do not travel without. The above seven will go in the bag first, the rest is secondary.
